# Math Help - Stuff i should know.

1. ## Stuff i should know.

Even though i am a complete math junkie, and am in the last term of first year calculus--which i understand pretty well, i am often vexed by algebra. Seems ridiculous, don't it?

Anyway, along the way of solving the derivative of a parametric, to find the equations of tangent lines at a point, I've run into the road block that i show in the attachment.

Sorry that it's an attachment. Not so sue about latex yet (just joined up today) and i detest the thought of keyboard entered math stuff.

Thanks!

2. You are correct! sqrt(3)=3/sqrt(3)

3. Originally Posted by boardguy67
Even though i am a complete math junkie, and am in the last term of first year calculus--which i understand pretty well, i am often vexed by algebra. Seems ridiculous, don't it?

Anyway, along the way of solving the derivative of a parametric, to find the equations of tangent lines at a point, I've run into the road block that i show in the attachment.

Sorry that it's an attachment. Not so sue about latex yet (just joined up today) and i detest the thought of keyboard entered math stuff.

Thanks!
You should know that:

$3 = \sqrt{3} \times \sqrt{3}$

So,

$\pm \frac{3}{\sqrt{3}} = \pm \frac{\sqrt{3} \times \sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}} = \pm \sqrt{3}$

Done!

4. They've rationalised the denominator:

$\frac{3}{\sqrt{3}}\times\frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}}= \frac{3\sqrt{3}}{3}=\sqrt{3}$